NNAT in APS - are kids over certain %tile tagged for G&T?

[Anonymous]

We just received the NNAT results for my second grader in APS. There is a "coffee" scheduled this coming week at his school to review results and explain the process but I really can't take off of work that morning to attend. Is there a certain %tile that triggers G&T services? Is it worth pursing?

[Anonymous]

If the percentage is 99% your child has a good chance but he/she has to do well on another test in 2nd grade, the cogAT test.
It's still too soon to tell in 1st grade.

[Anonymous]

My kid was dead average. I get to stay home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the percentage is 99% your child has a good chance but he/she has to do well on another test in 2nd grade, the cogAT test.
It's still too soon to tell in 1st grade.

But my kid is in 2nd? I haven't heard about a second test yet.

[Anonymous]

In Arlington CogAt is given in 4th grade, not 2nd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the percentage is 99% your child has a good chance but he/she has to do well on another test in 2nd grade, the cogAT test.
It's still too soon to tell in 1st grade.

That's Fairfax County.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone from APS have any insight? Appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

APS admin....For me NNAT is helpful at identifying kids with strengths that are typically overlooked by traditional classroom measures, due to language acquisition levels or disabilities. As is the case with any single measure, it does not mean a student is automatically identified as needing gifted services. That said, if a student scores high on the NNAT it is definitely a flag that we need to be on the lookout for additional evidence that a student needs greater challenge and rigor while continuing to nurture areas that don't readily present as strong. If a student is already presenting as advanced, particularly verbally, in classroom activities and on other measures, the NNAT results help provide more information about the student's overall profile, particularly with regard to nonverbal reasoning.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for responding.

Do you have a feel for what is considered "high"? Above 80th percentile? 90th?

Also, how comprehensive is the test? Does it cover math/verbal/spatial? We only saw a final score, not a breakdown of topics.

For a child with advanced verbal skills, are their needs typically met by the reading specialists that already come into the classroom?

I believe my child's needs are generally being met in his classroom, but just want to be sure we don't miss something.

[Anonymous]

And thank you again for your thoughtful response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for responding.

Do you have a feel for what is considered "high"? Above 80th percentile? 90th?

Also, how comprehensive is the test? Does it cover math/verbal/spatial? We only saw a final score, not a breakdown of topics.

For a child with advanced verbal skills, are their needs typically met by the reading specialists that already come into the classroom?

I believe my child's needs are generally being met in his classroom, but just want to be sure we don't miss something.

Try googling NNAT and looking at sample questions. There is not a verbal component at all to the NNAT. There is only one score. Basically it is pictures and they have to figure out the answer (sorry, my memory is not fresh on this). But it is not like there is a math section and a verbal section and a spatial section. That is more like the CoGAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In Arlington CogAt is given in 4th grade, not 2nd.

But NNAt us given in 2nd.

We have a 2nd and 4th grader in APS.

Yes- they use NNAT for GT (even though in 2nd grade it's known to be wildly unpredictable).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for responding.

Do you have a feel for what is considered "high"? Above 80th percentile? 90th?

Also, how comprehensive is the test? Does it cover math/verbal/spatial? We only saw a final score, not a breakdown of topics.

For a child with advanced verbal skills, are their needs typically met by the reading specialists that already come into the classroom?

I believe my child's needs are generally being met in his classroom, but just want to be sure we don't miss something.

Try googling NNAT and looking at sample questions. There is not a verbal component at all to the NNAT. There is only one score. Basically it is pictures and they have to figure out the answer (sorry, my memory is not fresh on this). But it is not like there is a math section and a verbal section and a spatial section. That is more like the CoGAT.

Thank you. Very helpful. This is our first child so we are a little clueless.

[Anonymous]

When DS was id'd in 2nd grade the NNAT was just one part of the picture. It wasn't as simple as a a specific threshold being met on one test, although obviously the higher the score the stronger the case for services being recommended.

The gifted resources and classroom teachers use their observations in conjunction with test results to decide which kids to target for services. For those kids a packet is mailed home for parental input and permission, then a small group (teacher, gifted resource teacher, principal, maybe one or two other people) meet to asses the packet, school work and test results and formally decide which kids will receive services in specific subjects.

That's how it all went down at my child's school 3 years ago in any case.

[Anonymous]

Go to AAP forum, there's loads of reading regarding NNat. To the person who said it's unpredictable -yes, apparently may have inaccurate highs and lows but in our case was very accurate. Nnat was done in 1st and every subsequent test (cogat admin'd by the county and private tests to diagnose ADD) has confirmed the score. Although other tests are more complex, they all have a part resembling Nnat.